15 Sep Raw to Gear-Part 2: Changes and Challenges
By: Daniel Dalenberg
This spring I made the decision to try my hand at multi-ply powerlifting and give a full equipped meet a go. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Between some of my own limited experience in gear and training with equipped lifters over the years, I knew enough to realize it would be a big change and a significant challenge. I’m writing this article after about 10 weeks of transitioning into gear and another 10 to go before the meet, lots of work left to do.
[wa-wps]
The Squat
Biggest Changes
From technical standpoint, the squat was probably the biggest change. My raw technique is somewhat unique and is certainly worlds apart from the “standard” mult-ply technique. I am used to a low bar, narrow stance squat, with my feet pretty straight forward. This had to change, the stance had to come out several inches, toes pointed out much further and the bar carried much higher. All of this felt incredibly foreign to me and still feels awkward.
The results
Squatting in just briefs is relatively easy once the stance is out far enough. I am wearing double-ply, grid stitched predators, a pretty serious pair of briefs, but squatting in just briefs is fairly forgiving. Mistakes can be made and still easily overcome. Full gear is another story. It feels horribly claustrophobic and small mistakes are paid for quickly.
I’ve had two mistakes that quickly showed themselves. The first was carrying the bar too low and feeling like it was about to come off my back. That one was with 785. I’m not sure the monolift even opened before I was calling for the rack. The second time, I got forward and my knees came forward, taking me completely out of my groove. When this happens it feels like you are going to get shot out from under the bar and dump it entirely. This mistake was with 875. That was enough weight that I am simply not strong enough to correct a big mistake.
Level of confidence
With 10 weeks left, I feel just ok about the squat, partly because my expectations are high. I’ve squatted over 800 in just wraps on multiple occasions. From a strength standpoint, I should squat something respectable in gear. However, I am an infant in terms of experience and this will be the limiting factor. I think I know what I need to do and what I need to correct. The next few weeks will be very telling. All of that considered, this is where the beauty of the Leviathan Ultra-Pro (LUP) comes in. If I can’t get it all figured out and dialed in, we can always leave the suit fairly loose just get some lifts in.
The Bench
Biggest Changes
Grip width, touching point, and elbow positioning have all been changed. Some changed back to where I started. I am in a navy blue triple ply SDP. This shirt is made of the stretchy SDP material, back to what Inzer started with on the SDP.
The Results
The break in process started easy enough. High board work is easy, it doesn’t take any work and it feels cool because you feel like you bench a million pounds. Two big challenges came quickly though. The first was grip width. I moved out too fast and with the maximum legal grip, I felt I could hardly hold onto the bar. I brought my grip all the way back in and started over, not sure on where I will end up on this. The other big challenge was how much shirt work beats up the body. After several break in weeks my elbows were completely trashed. I missed a rep because my body had completely given up. This resulted in a two week deload that I think has me back on track.
Level of confidence
I feel pretty good about the bench. To be honest, I think the shirt I have is a little big for me. I recently had the sleeves snugged up, but even with that I think I could wear a smaller shirt. In time I will, but for this first meet I think wearing one that is a touch big will be in my favor. The primary goal of this meet is to get qualified for the Arnold so I would much rather reduce the bomb out risk and get one in than wear something too extreme for me and end up heading home early.
The Deadlift
Biggest Changes
In terms of actually executing the lift, not much has changed. My set up has changed quite a bit though. I am wearing an Inzer Fusion with a double ply rear and single ply front. The straps are adjustable and the entire backside all the way from the bottom of the leg to the top of the straps is grid stitched. The biggest change has been how to get down to the bar. Obviously a non-issue when pulling raw, but a much different story in the suit. I have figured out my style- I flair my knees, rotate out on to the sides of my feet and dive bomb to grab the center of the bar with one hand. From there I set my under hand and then slide out the over hand to finally pull myself into position.
The Results
The first time trying to get to the bar was comical. I got hung up about 6 inches short. It was like I had hit a brick wall. Once I figured it out though, it’s not too bad. Extremely uncomfortable and mentally challenging to force the patience it takes to get into position, but technically simple.
Level of Confidence
I’ve yet to pull heavy straps up, but everything I have touched to this point feels extremely easy. Anything under 500 pounds feels like I just need to keep position and hold on. I know that the deadlift generally has the least amount of carry over and I feel quite confident that I will be able to take advantage of the suit to pull something over my raw PR.
Overall
I have a primary and secondary goal for this meet.
Primary- Qualify for the pro day at the Arnold. This means a 2200 pound total, which I think is very realistic assuming that I can continue to figure out the gear. I am absolutely strong enough to do it, experience will be the limiting factor.
Secondary- Don’t bomb and qualify for the amateur day at the Arnold. This is a 1990 total, which is less than I have done raw. Assuming that I don’t bomb, this should not be an issue. Absolute worst case scenario, I could squat in briefs only, bench in a loose singly ply and pull raw to still total over 2000 and get in the meet. I don’t foresee needing to do this, but nice to have the insurance of it anyways.
All of this has been a great learning experience. It’s fun, I’m excited to train and I see a lot of potential. I came into it knowing that it would take a while before I was able to lift equipped at the level that I want to and the biggest take away has been that it will probably take even longer than I originally thought. I look forward to whatever lessons there are to learn over the next 10 weeks and to what the meet with surely teach me.
Read about why Daniel Dalenberg decided to switch to Gear in Part 1 of Raw to Gear here.
Check out and shop for Inzer Gear here.
Daniel Dalenberg
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